A note from Mommy:A community that excludes even one member is no community at all. Dan Wilkins
Tonight I started discussions with the local school district on where Peyton best belongs when she has the option to attend preschool this summer. The transition from the infant program to preschool in the school district is complex enough that they publish a small manual on all the steps. Peyton is more complicated then most in that she not only has medical considerations but physical ones as well. Peyton is hard of hearing but "aided" she could easily be mainstreamed. Peyton has a trach and g tube but with a nurse she could easily be mainstreamed. Peyton has a few physical limitations due to her upper extremities and being smaller than most children her age but with some modifications to the classroom she could easily be mainstreamed. The sticking point continues to be her communication style - or should I say styles? Receptive communication (what she is taking in) she was actually above age level when tested in the fall. It's the expressive communication (how she communicates back) that is in transition for her. Up until about six months ago, her expressive communication was entirely ASL. Then she started talking and we were thrilled! Unfortunately, being so late to talking and compounded with craniofacial differences she is very difficult to understand. So where does this little girl belong? In a deaf/hard of hearing classroom where everyone is "speaking" her native language (ASL) or in a mainstreamed classroom with an interpreter to help her communicate with her teacher, nurse and the other students in the language most compatible with the rest of society? There are pros and cons to each and as she gets older it may be she spends time in both during the course of her day. This will be an interesting journey for her and for us.
I am grateful for all the children that came before Peyton who did not have the luxury of IEP's and infant programs and deaf/hard of hearing classes - they have paved the way to Peyton getting the best public education possible.
It is no doubt that you belong everywhere, and whatever setting you end up in, they will be lucky to have you!
ReplyDeleteIt may not be a bad idea to put you in both settings, as I'm sure the older you get and the more your speaking communication improves, the "regular" classroom would serve you just fine, where as the hard of hearing classroom would be ideal for younger years.
Nobody can keep you down, that's the important thing to remember!
Hello Peyton,
ReplyDeleteI have thought alot about your mommys comments about the years ahead and how you will fit in to school settings,which will be the best for you, etc.We all knew on the day you were born,that you would be a special little girl as determined by a very rare syndrome.But little did we know on the day that you were born, how incrediably amazing you would be at two and a half,in ways that have absolutely nothing to do with that syndrome.Your a dynamo,and you will fit in wherever you are by the strength of your personality,and by your determination to be everything you want to do and be.I am not a betting person Peyton,but if I was,I would put everything I pocessed on knowing that in the years to come,you will fulfill our hopes and dreams for you,and then some.More importantly sweetheart,you will fulfill your hopes and dreams,and that is even more important!
P.S.
Have your mommy and daddy read this weeks People magazine.It has an article about a twelve year old boy who was never expected to go home from the hospital,or even be held by his mommy or daddy.He defied all the odds against him to go to school,participate in sports,
and to live a life beyound anyones
wildest dreams.It's bound to remind your mommy and daddy of their miracle baby girl.
Hugs and kisses,
Granpa and Granma Mower